'Parenthood' exec "hopeful" about fifth season

Parenthood exec Jason Katims has revealed that he is "hopeful" the show will return for a fifth season.

Katims told TV Guide that it is "still very early" but added that NBC supports his series, which stars Peter Krause and Lauren Graham.

"Right now [the network is] involved with launching their midseason shows and they're looking at pilots," he explained. "But I do feel that we're ending [season four] in a good place... creatively and I think we're ending in a good place in terms of our audience so I'm hopeful that we'll get a season five."

Katims insisted that he is happy with Parenthood's "solid' audience, which has ranged from 4.6m to 5.7m this season.

"It sometimes happens where you can feel that people not only think the show is a good show for the network, but they themselves become fans of the show," he said.

"While it remains - and I'm sure always will be on some level - a bubble show, the show's audience is solid and even showing signs of growth so I think that doesn't hurt."

Parenthood's fourth season finale airs tonight (January 22) at 10/9c on NBC. In the UK, the series previously aired on 5* but is currently without a UK broadcaster.